Overhead door and construction of the same



p -'5, 1933. J. E. SCOTT OVERHEAD DOOR AND CONSTRUCTION OF TEE SAIEFiled April 12, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 5, 1933. 4 E, sco'r'r v1,925,574

OVIRHEAD DOOR AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAIB Filed April 12, 1930 aSheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 5, 1933. J. E. SCOTT OVERHEAD DOOR AND CONSTRUCTIONOF THE SAME 8 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 12, 1930 Sept. 5, 1933.

- J. E. scoTT 1,925,574

OVERHEAD DOOR AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAME Filed April 12 1930 8Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 5, 1933. J. E. SCOTT 1,925,574

OVERHEAD DOOR AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAIE Filed April 12, 1930 r 8Sheets-Sheet 5 p 5, 1933. .1. E. SCOTT OVERHEAD DOOR Am) CONSTRUCTION OFTHE SAIE Filed April 12, 1930 8 Sheds-Sheet 6 z e U52 Sept. 5, 1933. vJ. E. SCOTT OVERHEAD DOOR AND CONSTRUCTION OF SAIE 8 Sheets-Sheet 7'Filed April 12, 19:50

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Sept. 5, 1933. J. E. SCOTT 1,925,574

OVERHEAD DOOR AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAME Filed April 12 1930 8Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Sept. 5, 1933 OVERHEAD noon AND CONSTRUCTION OFTHE. SAME John E. Scott, Danville,v Ill., assignor to Allith- ProutyCompany, Danville, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application April 12,1930. Serial No. 443,658

Claims.

This invention relates generally to overhead type of doors for garages,warehouses, piers and other structures of like nature wherein the doorsare moved into overhead, out-of-the-way open 5 position, and findsespecial use in connection with the installation of doors in garages,warehouses or like structures wherein head room is at a minimum andwherein tight fitting of the doors is desirable when in closedpositions.

Present day building conditions of garages or like structures,especially garages of the built-in type, call for minimum head room overthe doorway and rendering impossible the installation of doors requiringmuch hardware and operating mechanism and/or track structure.

The present invention provides a construction of hardware and operatingparts of such nature, design and arrangement that doors of the overheadtype may readily be installed in garages and other structures whereinthe ceiling is not over a few inches above the door lintel or header.

An object of the present invention is to .provide an overhead doorconstruction which may be installed in a comparatively small space abovethe doorway.

Another object of the invention is to provide guideways for doors of theoverhead type having a plurality of hingedly connected panels whereinthe door is guided and supported within the outer plane of the guidewaysand wherein the lifting and counter-balance mechanism is also includedwithin such plane, thereby to reduce to a' minimum the head roomnecessary for installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide channel-like tracks orguideways for the doors and to arrange the lifting and counter-balancemechanism within the outer plane of such guideways so that the guidewaysmay be attached directly against the wall or ceiling without anyintervening space.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide channel-liketrolley tracks or guideways for doors of the overhead type and toposition the lifting cables within said tracks, which cables are guidedtherein insuch manner as to prevent interfering with the rollers andhangers supporting the doors and also to arrange the oounter-balancemechanism substantially Within the compass of the vertical height of thehorizontal portion of such tracks or guideways.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide guideways,lifting cables and counter-balance mechanism for overhead doors whereinno part of the lifting and counter-balance mechanism extends above thetop side of the horizontal portion of the guideways and wherein themajor portion of the lifting cables and the counterbalance means operatewithin the space of the vertical height of the horizontal portion of theguideway.

A still further object of the invention is to provide counter-balanceand lifting mechanism for overhead doors which is containedsubstantially within the vertical height of the horizontal portions ofthe door guideways and which is enclosed within a protecting housing.

Another and still further object of the invention is to provide anoverhead door construction wherein the guideways may be fasteneddirectly to the front wall or ceiling of the garage or like structure tothus eliminate brackets or special supports.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an overhead doorconstruction wherein the doors when in open overhead position areunderslung or suspended from the guideways and with no portions of thedoors extending above the upper plane or top side of the guideways.

Another and yet further object of the invention is to provide a novelwedging action between an overhead door and a door frame whereby thedoor may be tightly wedged against the same as it is moved into closingposition.

An embodiment of the above enumerated and other features of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a rear elevational View of an overhead door constructionrepresentative of the present invention showing the door in closedposition in a garage and with certain .parts in section, also showing animproved hinge for conmeeting the panels of the door;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the door in closed position anda side elevational view of certain parts of the guideways or track;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially inthe plane of line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the curvedsection or gusset showing the formation of the two trackways orguideways of the gusset;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmental elevational viewof the hingeembodying the present invention;

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially in the plane of line VI-VI ofFigure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical section through the up- 2 i am showing theposition of the door when in open overhead position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical fragmental sectional view of the frontcorner at the door opening showing one of the guideways in sec-=- tionand the position of the bottom roller when the door is in open overheadposition;

Figure 9 is a fragmental vertical sectional view of the upper end of thevertical track section showing the position of the top roller when thedoor is in closed position;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of one half of the trolley trackguideway showing the intermediate rollers traversing a groove of saidtrack;

Figure 11 is a fragmental vertical sectional view taken substantially inthe plane .of line XI-XI of Figure 1, showing the trolley grooves forthe bottom and top rollers;

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line XIIXIIof Figure 10 showing the top and bottom rollers as disposed to engageone of the grooves of the trolley track and the intermediate rollersarranged to engage the other groove;

Figure 13 is a fragmental elevational view of the trolley track with thedoor attaching brackets and rollers in place taken substantially in theplane of line XIIIXIII of Figure 10;

Figure 1a is an enlargedfragmental sectional view taken in the plane ofline XIVX'IV of Figure 2;

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional fragmental view taken through thecompound counterbalance springs. of the present invention showingdetails of construction of the same;

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the horizontal portions of the guidewaysor trackwaysshowing the same attached to the front wall of the buildingadjacent the opening and showing the doors in closed position;

Figure! 1'? is a fragmental horizontal sectional view taken through thecounter-balance com- :partment and the horizontal portions of theguideways and showing the flexible lifting element within the guideways;

Figure 18 is an end view of the door in closed position showing theinclined stop cooperating with the inclined faces of the panels of thedoor for securing wedging action when the door is in closed position;

Figures 19 to 22 inclusive are enlarged horizontal sectional views takenon lines XIX-XIX to XXIL- inclusive of Figure 18 and showing thevariation in the incline of the stops and the cooperating faces of thedoor;

Figure 23 is a vertical section showing the arrangement of the door andguide mechanism where the ceiling is some distance above the dooropening so that only part of the door when opened will engage thehorizontal guideway;

Figure 24- is an enlarged top view of a door I panel and a rolleabracket;

' horizontal section H and a gusset or intermeing a bottom. rollerarrangement when the roller is about to pass from the vertical guidewayto the horizontal guideway.

The drawings will nowcbe explained.

A doorway is. illustrated in the front wah A. of a garage or likestructure which has a ceiling B. The doorway includes jambs C and alintel or header D.

In Figures 2; 7, 8 and 1.1 the ceiling B is disposed but a slightdistance above the header D as in common practice in the construction ofsmall or built-in garages and like structures. The roofing material orequivalent E is applied atop the ceiling joist F. s

The door is illustrated as composed of panels, 1, 2, 3 and 4 which spanthe door opening and are long enough to overlie the door jarnbs C. Thereare four' panels illustrated in the' drawings, but it is understood thatthere may be as many or as few as desired and that also any one orseveral of the panels may be supplied with glass.

The panels are hingedly connected in the present instance by means ofspring metal straps 5 which overlie the joints between adjacent edges ofthe panels and which straps are fastened in spaced relation to saidjoints. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate details of the hinge. Each end of astrap 5 is received in a canopy 6 having side walls '7 and an end wall 8the lower edges of which are serrated at 9 so that the canopy may strap5 in its hinging action. The strap 5 is provided near each end withenlarged openings 11 through which 'pass attaching means such as lagscrews 12, which screws pass through openings 10a in the top side of thecanopy 6. The

hinge just described allows hinging movement of the panels as the dooris moved in use and at the same time allows for contraction andexpansion of the several panels Without binding which would otherwiseoccur if ordinary pin or strap hinges were used. There are as many ofthese strap hinges applied tothe door as the weight and size of the samedemands and the hinging action requires.

The door may be supplied with handles13 ai 1 ranged at convenient placesfor raising and lowering the same. a

It is to be understood that there are two trackways or guidewaysutilized, one at each side of the door opening for guiding thesidemargins of the door in use. These guideways are alike and therefore thedescription of one, it is believed, will suflice forbdth.

The track or guideway construction includes in the present instance avertical section G, a

diate curved section K.-

The vertical and horizontal sections are made as trolley tracks, thatis, a track formed of sheet metal shaped to provide twoparallel rollerreceiving grooves 14 and 15 which are laterally spaced and which providea slot 16 between the same throughout the length of the trolley track.Sections of the track are illustrated in Figures 3 and 14. The sides ofthe track are bowed at 17 so as to allow free passage of the axlessupporting the rollers traversing the grooves of the track.

The vertical sections G are provided at intervals in the length thereofwith countersunk holes 18 through which lag screws or similar attachingmeans 19 may be applied for securing the base of the trolley trackdirectly to the jamb stud 20. The countersunk portions 18 are driveninto the wood of the stud so that the track will have a firm bearing onits rear or contacting side with respect to the stud, thus preventingany tendency to rock in service.

The horizontal sections H are of similar construction and similarlyattached to the ceiling.

The vertical sections G extend up to and terminate at the line 21 ofFigure 10 whereas the outer end of the horizontal sections H terminateat 22 in Figure 10.

The gusset or intermediate curved trackway section may be formed from asheet of metal of suitable thickness and as so formed includes a curvedroller receiving groove 23 registering with the grooves 14 of thevertical and horizontal sections G and H. The formation of the gusset orintermediate portion K is'illustrated in Figure 4 and as so formedprovides a stop 25 to prevent derailment of the rollers traversing thegroove 23. The gusset is secured to the door jambs by lag screws orsimilar means 19 passing through the countersunk portions 26 of thesame' which are driven into the wood of the jamb.

Likewise the gusset K is provided with a horizontal track membercarrying the groove 27 which registers with the groove 15 of thehorizontal track section H. The outer end of this portion 27 is curveddownwardly terminating above the header D of the door frame.

The gusset likewise is formed with a vertical track member 28 whichregisters with the groove 15 of the vertical track section G and at itsupper end with the groove 27 of the horizontal portion of the gusset.The meeting endsof the grooves 27 and 28 of the gusset form an arc 29which is described on a short radius suflicient to provide a smoothcurve so that the rollers may readily pass about the corner of the trackat this point.

The provision of the vertical and horizontal trolley track sections Gand H and the gusset or intermediate curved section X provides thereforetwo continuous trackways, one consisting of the groove 14 of thevertical section, groove 23 of the curved or gusset section, and thegroove 14 of thehorizontal section H as is illustrated in Figure 10 ofthe drawings. is that consisting of the vertical groove 15 of thevertical section G, the aligning groove 28 of the vertical portion ofthe gusset and the groove in the horizontal curved portion 27 of thegusset meeting to form the curve 29 as illustrated in Figure 9, thusproviding a continuous trackway of different contour, curved part.

The illustrated door consisting of four panels is provided at each sidethereof with roller carrying brackets. Top brackets are provided on theuppermost panel of the door near the top of the same. As best shown inFigures 24 and 25 each bracket comprises an L-shape bar 30 whose outerend 30 extendsupwardly (Fig- "ure 9) and into the slot 16 formed in theadjacent track and journals a roller 31. The horizontal or inner partofthe bar is bridged by a strap or housing 32 which is secured to thepanel, these straps permitting longitudinal play of the bars tocompensate for-expansion and contraction of the panel and inequalitiesin the tracks. The to traverse the outer roller grooves 15 of the 'tionto open overhead The other groove however, at the top rollers 31 arearranged trackway, that is, the ones nearer the door opening.

Lower brackets 34 are fastened to the lowermost panel of the door nearthe bottom thereof and are similar to the top roller-brackets 30 exceptthat they are in reversed position so that the roller bearing ends 34extend downwardly instead of upwardly, as illustrated in Figures 8 and11 and 26 to 29. These bottom brackets carry bottom rollers 35 whichlike the top rollers 31 traverse the roller grooves 15 of the severaltrack sections.

Intermediate brackets 36--three being shown -are secured to variouspanels of the door preferably adjacent the hinges of the same. Thesebrackets are L-shaped but are not deflected vertically, their outer endsextending into the slots 16 of the adjacent trackways. Rollers 3'7 arejournalled on the outer ends of these brackets within the trackway andtraverse the grooves 14, 23 and 14 of the'vertical, intermediate andhorizontal rail sections respectively.

The vertical sections G of the trackway are perpendicular to the floor,that is, parallel to the 'front wall A of the garage .or like buildingand as illustrated in Figure 14 are set in the door jambs a slightdistance.

The door in moving from-vertical closed posiposition is carried by theseveral rollers described with the top and bottom rollers engaging theouter roller grooves of the track sections and the intermediate rollersengaging the inner grooves of such track sections.

Figure 9 illustrates the normal position of the toprollers 31 when thedoor is closed, that is,

grooves of the track sections and along the curves 23 of the gussets orintermediate portions or sections.

The upper rollers 31 travel along the grooves of the horizontal portions27 of the gussets and the inner grooves 15 of the horizontal sections H,while the bottom rollers 35 travel vertically along the outer grooves 14of the vertical sections G and the vertical sections of the gussets;

The lifting element supplied for raising the door includes two cables38. As best shown in Figures 26 to 28, the cables is attached to thehorizontal leg of an inverted L-shaped link 39 whose vertical linkreceives the pin or axle 35 of the corresponding roller 35. The cablesextend upwardly within the track sections G and 28 and outwardly throughopenings 40, thence over pulleys 41 supported in blocks 42 fastened tothe top side of the horizontal portions 2'7 of the gussets, thencerearwardly entering the horizontal portions of the trackways throughopenings 43 therein and continuing within the horizontal portions of thetrackway. The horizontal portions of the. trackway are provided withmeans for guiding the horizontal runs of the cables 38 .to prevententanglement with the rollersand in the present instance these guidesconsist of stirrups 44 struck inwardly from the top sides of thesections for receiving thecables 38 as illustrated in Figure 3. The.rear ends of the horizontal seclower end of each of these tions of thetrack H are open. Plates are bolted against the inner sides of thehorizontal track sections H at their rear open ends and project beyondsaid ends; Pulleys 45 journalled in blocks 46 are secured to theseplates 45 and the cables 48 pass about the pulleys 45 thence extendtransversely between the horizontalsections H of the track around otherpulleys 47 and are attached to eyes 48 secured to the plates 45, thusfixing the ends of the cables 38. The operation of the cables iscontrolled by means of a counterbalance spring arrangement now tobedescribed.

Each pulley 17 is carried by a rod 50 which extends through a plug 51into a tension spring 56 whose adjacent end is secured to the plug. Theinner end of the rod 50 is provided with a nut 53 forming an adjustableabutment for a cup 54.. Disposed about the rod 50 inside the -spring 56and between the plug 51 and cup 54 is a compression spring 55 whichspring when the door is in its lowermost or closed position iscompressed as shown in Figures 15 and 17.

The other end of each spring 56 is secured to an S-link 58 or othersuitable fitting from which extends a length of chain 49 for adjustablyanchoring the spring from a hook 57. There are two such counter-balancespring structures, one for-each of the cables, and they operatetransversely and pull in opposite directions between the horizontalportions of the trackQthat is, parallel to the door and door opening. InFigures 15 and 17 the spring structures are shown in fully expandedposition, the door being closed.

The counter-balance springs and pulleys are preferably enclosed within ahousing 59 suit- I ably secured to the plates 45, and on the bottom ofthe housing is a board or other deadening material 60. The plates 45rest against the ceiling and the housing may be entirely above the lowerplanes of the horizontal track sections H. The housing 59 and the trackstructures enclose andprotect the spring structures and the cables andcontact with them by persons is prevented, this assuring safety. Thehousing will also catch the drippings of oil or grease from the springstructures.

The various rollers are so designed as to engage the roller receivinggrooves of the several track sections and members and not be derailed ordisplaced. The diameters of these rollers are therefore such as to begreater than the distance between the inturned edges 61 of the guides oithe grooves and the back of the trolly track members. The width of therollers is also less than'the width of the grooves. This arrangementpermits suflicient play of the rollers and consequently of the supporteddoor with respect to the fore and aft dimensions of the track sectionsso as to prevent binding.

Thevertical track -sections G and 28 are preferably perpendicular to thefloor so that vertical movement of the panels of the door will beparallel tothe front wall of the building. To insure a tight sealing fitof the door when closed, each jamb of the door frame is provided with astop 62 which inclines downwardly from the top thereof and, inwardly,thus iorming an inclined edge 63 which is uniforni from top to bottom.The end faces of the door panel which engage the stop 62 are rabbeted tobe beveled in a complementary manner as is clearly indicated at 62' inFigures 18 to 22 so that "when the door is lowered perpendicularly and.will be directly secured to the rollers are held to the. verticaltrackways the door will be wedged against the stops 62, thus forming atight and secure closure.

Referring to Figures 26 to 30, the links 39 have comparatively looseengagement with the cables 38 and the pins 35' of the lower rollers 35so that the pull of the cables will always be entirely on the pins. Eachlink has an abutment wing 63 which is engaged by the depending end 34.of the-corresponding door supporting bracket 34 when the lower panel isin vertical position and such engagement holds the links 39 in uprightposition during vertical travel of the lower panel in order to keep thecables 38 close to the backs of the vertical guide rail structures. Asthe intermediate rollers above the lower rollers engage in the curvedtrackway 23 and the lower panel assumes an inclined position, the lowersupporting brackets 34 will be correspondingly inclined, as indicated inFigure 30, but the links 39 will maintain their upright.

may travel freely position so that the cables over the pulleys 41. Whenthe door is lowered and the lower panel resumes its vertical positionthe dependingends 34" of the supporting brackets will again come intoengagement with the abutment wings 63 and the links 39 will be held inupright position to keep the cables back in the trackways. The cablesare thus at all times held out of the way of the moving door and theycan freely and without straintravel around the guide pulleys.

In some installations of the door structure the door opening header Dmay be some distance below the ceiling, as shown in Figure 23. Undersuch conditions the gussets or corner members of the trackways aresupported in the corners between the front wall and ceiling and the walland ceiling. However, the horizontal track structure will be shorter andthe vertical track structure will be correspondingly longer as only partof the door will have to travel around the corner or gusset trackstructure. Where the ceiling is only a short distance above the doorway,as for example in Figure 2, the horizontal gusset section 27 will benecessary for receiving the upper rollers and for swinging the upperdoor panel into closed position against the doorway stop. However, inthe arrangement shown in Figure 23, where the ceiling is higher andwhere the lower panel may never assume an inclined position, thehorizontal and vertical gusset sections 27 and 28 may be dispensed withand the upper rollers may travel along the curved sections 23 of thegussets. v

To facilitate traveling of the door structure on its downward movementropes or chains 64 are preferably provided which are anchored at theirlower ends to the bottom of the lower panel and 4 at their upper endsare anchored to the framework surrounding the doorway. Such ropes may bereadily grasped and pulled to start the door on its downward movementand the ropes are preferably of such length. that they will act as stopsfor the opening movement of the door, and preferably springs 65 areincluded in'the ropes to gradually check. the final opening movement ofthe door structure. By means of these ropes the door may also be morereadily started in its upward or opening movement, particularly when thedoor is heavy.

The operation of the overhead door construction is briefly as follows:

The door when in its lowermost or closed 1 quick closing of the toppanel as the door is lowposition is urged into tight cooperation withthe door jamb by engagement of the rabbeted portions of the panel endswith the jamb stops 62 and is maintained thereagainst by engagement ofthe rollers with the grooves l4 and 15 of the track. Such wedgingengagement'together with the weight of the door overbalances the pull ofthe spring structures and the door remains closed. A slight upwardeffort imparted to the door will assist the spring structures to raisethe door and move it horizontally to expose the door-way. Where theceiling is low the upper rollers rapidly pass around the bend 29 so thatthe upper panel is quickly swung into inclined position to proceed alongthe horizontal sections 27 of the gusset structure.

During a substantial portion of the upward movement of the doors thespring 55 remains compressed and the raising of the door is accomplishedby the contraction of the springs 56. The energy of the springs 56 will,aided by a slight upward pressure against the door, draw the doorupwardly and inwardly, the intermediate rollers 37 following the innergrooves of the tracks and passing along the curved sections 23 of thegussets. The bottom rollers 35, however, being guided in the outergrooves will move vertically upwardly and until the links 39 on thebrackets 34 come against the upper portion of the gusset track part 27as illustrated in Figure 8 whereupon further movement of the cables isstopped and the door comes to rest in this position. The curve 29 of thetrack is placed a sufiicient distance above the header D of the door sothat the bottom or lower margin of the lowermost panel is raised abovethe tion as illustrated clearly in Figure 7.

The energy of the main springs 56 becomes gradually dissipated as thedoor is raised, but the springs 55 which have for a time been retainedunder compression will begin to expand and will assist the main springsin raising the door clear of the door-way. The expansion of the springs55 will cease when the adjustable stop nuts 52 on the rods-50 reach theplugs 51. The arrangement of the springs is desirable as it allows theuse of the shorter and lighter main springs 56 and enables theinstallation of spring structure of suflicient power and strength withinthe distance between the opposite rail structures to efiiciently balancethe weightof the door.

The horizontal sections of the tracks are attached directly to theceiling so that a minimum head room is required for installation of thepresent invention. The head room required need be sufllcient only toreceive the horizontal sections of the track plus the width of the doorwhen in fully opened position. It has been found'that trolley tracks ofapproximately three inches (3") vertical height are sufficient to carrythe heaviest door utilized in small garages, consequently the head roomrequired for the installation of this overhead door. construction issubstantially less than six inches (6") a feature which is verydesirable in built-in types of garages. 1

It will be observed that the door is raised completely out of the dooropening thus offering no obstruction to vehicles passing through thedoorway, and consequently clearing any vehicle which may be underneaththe same.

The arrangement of the top rollers and the formaLm of the track in themanner described and illustrated for low ceiling spaces enables a eredinto closed position as the top rollers 31 roll over the are 29 intoengagement with the downwardly, the force of gravity set up by thismovement is sufficient to overcome the heavier springs 56 thusstretching and elongating the springs as the door lowers until finallyit is lowered to closed position, whereupon the springs.

are stretched to maximum elongation as shown in Figure 17. During thedownward movement of the door the springs 56 are elongate, thus storingup energy in the springs for subsequent raising of the doors. At thesame time the springs 55 are compressed, also storing up energy in thesesprings for opening of the doors.

The door in reaching its lowermost or closed position is movedperpendicularly by reason of the perpendicular arrangement of thevertical sections of the track and also by reason of the fact that theaxes of all of the rollers, top, bottom and intermediate, are the samedistance from the inner face of the door. Such movement brings the doorinto frictional tight engagement with the inclined stops 62, thustightly closing the door.

All of the rollers are the same size and all the axes of the rollers arethe same distance from the inner surface of the door. Consequently thedoor is maintained close against the track at all times. The hangersbeing made L-shaped "with portions extending into the slots betweenstallation where the tracks are fastened directly to the ceiling andwherein the doorsare suspended from the tracks when in open overheadposition, and at the same time allowing clear ance between the doors andthe top of the door opening.

Applying the track sections directly to the jambs and to the ceiling inthe manner heretofore stated prevents any play of the track, thuspreventing binding of the rollers and hangers or brackets with thetrack. The trolley track employed is strong and rigid and safely carriesany door of ordinary size and weight.

The top rollers travel substantially horizontally while the bottomrollers travel vertically and the intermediate or hinge rollers 'travelvertically, horizontally and also along a curved path connecting thehorizontal and vertical sections of the track. The provision of atrolley track having double roller receiving grooves enables thearrangement of the rollers in the manner stated and the utilization ofrollers having the axes thereof the same distance from the door.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely, yet itis to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as

changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts andequivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An overhead door construction for doorways of garages or likestructures including,

, guide rails, a door guided by and movable along said guide rails, saidguide rails having vertical portions along the door jambs and rearwardlyextending horizontal portions'above the doorway, curved portionsconnecting said vertical and horizontal rail portions, rollers supportedon the door for operation along said guide rails, side edges of the doorbeing rabbeted from top to bottom; in a continuous line which inclinesdownwardly from the front face of the door, and stops on the jambshaving similarly inclined contacting faces for engagement by saidrabbets when the door is closed, said rollers being positioned at equaldistances from the inner face of said door and cooperating with theguide rails in 'maintaining the rabbets against the stops when the dooris in closed position.

2. A building structure of the class described including a vertically.disposed and movable door, said door consisting of a plurality ofhinge'dly connected panels, guide rails extending perpendicularly fromthe floor adjacent the lower part of the doorway upwardly along thesides of the door opening and thence rearwardly in a horizontaldirection away from the doorway, said rails having grooves thereinextending throughout the lengths thereof, brackets attached to'the doorand supporting rollers for traversing said grooves, the axes of all ofsaid rollers being the same distance from the inner face of said door,said doorway having inclined door engaging stops, said door havingrabbeted portions tor forming similarly inclined faces whereby onlowering the door the several panels will be forced to tight wedge-likeclosure with the door stops and on opening will be moved away from. andreleased from frictional engagement with the door frame.

3. An overhead door construction including a door and a doorway, saiddoor comprising hingedly connected panels, guide rails for said door ateach side of said doorway, said guide rails each'including two parallelspaced grooves, rollers supported near the top and bottom of said doorand disposed to traverse one of said grooves, and rollers supportedadjacent the hinges of said door, arranged to traverse the other of saidgrooves.

' 4. An overhead door construction including a door and a doorway, saiddoor comprising hingedly connected panels, guide rails over which thedoor is movable from a closed to an overway and there connectmg withcorresponding groove of the overhead section with the con- 11 .:tiondescribed'as an arc, the other of said grooves curving rearwardly belowthe top of the doorway and connected with its corresponding groove ofthe horizontal section away from the doorway, said door having rollerssupported near its top and bottom and engageable with the firstmentioned groove, other rollers supported on the door between the topand bottom rollers and engageable. with the second mentioned groove,cables connected to said door at the bottom of the same and passingupwardly within the vertical track sections and outwardly thereof at thetop thence about a pulley and thence horizontally through and within thehorizontal track sections, spring counter-balance connections arrangedcrosswise of said horizontal guides and connected to said cables, saidcables raising the bottom edge of said door above the door opening whenthe door is raised to fully open position. 5. An overhead doorconstruction including a track having vertically and horizontallydisposed sections, a panelled door slidably supported on said track,said track comprising trolley track having spaced parallel'rollerreceiving grooves therein, .L-shaped brackets secured to said door andhaving the ends thereof extending into said trolley track between thegrooves, certain of said brackets carrying rollers traversing one ofsaid grooves and certain other brackets carrying rollers traversing theother of said grooves whereby said door is hung from said horizontaltrack sections when the door is in overhead open position.

6. An overhead door construction including a track having vertically andhorizontally disposed sections, a panelled door slidably supported onsaid track, said track comprising trolley track having spaced parallelroller receiving grooves therein, L-shaped brackets secured to said doorand having the ends thereof extending into said trolley track betweenthe grooves, certain of said brackets carrying rollers traversing one ofsaid grooves and certain other brackets car.- rying rollers traversingthe other of said grooves whereby said door is hung from said horizontaltrack sections when the door is in overhead open position, thecontacting faces of the door and the door jambs being sloped to wedgesaid door between said jambs and said track when in lowered closedposition.

7. An overhead door construction including a door composed of hingedlyconnected shiftable panels, guide means for said door, said meansincluding vertical sections arranged parallel with the wall about thedoor opening, a substantially horizontal section arranged for fasteningagainst the ceiling inwardly of the door opening, said guide meansincluding two parallel roller grooves, one of said grooves of thevertical section joining a corresponding groove of the horizontalsection above the top of the doorway, theother groove being connected toits corresponding groove by a curved groove of greater curvature whichconnects with the vertical section below the top of the doorway,brackets attached to said panels and extending inwardly between saidgrooves, rollers journalled on said brackets within the guide means, therollers near the top and bottom of the door traversible along said firstmentioned groove and rollers adjacent the hinges traversible along theother groove.

8. An, overhead door construction including a door consisting ofhingedly connected panels, guide rollers at the top of said door, guiderollers at the bottom of said door, guide ways for said rollers,intermediate rollers adjacent the hinges of said door, other guidewaysfor saidinter?v mediate rollers, each of said guideways including avertical portion and ahorizontal portion connected by curves, the curvesof the guideways being difierent and arranged with one below the other.a a

9. An overhead door construction including a door consisting ofvhingedly connected panels, guide rollers at the top of said door, 1guide rollers at the bottom of said-door, guide ways for said rollers,intermediate rollers adjacent the hinges of said door, other guideways'for intermediate rollers, each of said guideways 'including a verticalportion and a'horizontal portion connected by curves, the curves of theguideways being different andiarranged with one below the other, aportion ofthe guides ofthe top and;

bottom rollers meeting. above the door opening 'in an arc of shortradius, a portion of the guide for the intermediate rollers being joinedby a curve of greater radius which meets the vertical portion below thetop of thedoor opening.

10. An'overhead door construction-for doorways of garages and likestructures, including side rails having horizontal andvertical portionsl and curved portions 'c'onnecting the horizontal and'vertical portions,the vertical portions being attachable directly against the door jambsand the horizontal portions-being attachable directly againstthe ceilingwithout intervening spaces,

a door guided by and movable along said rails from vertical closedposition to open horizontal overhead position and vice versa; liftingmeans for said door operating within the compass of the transversedimensions'of said rails, said lifting means including springs extendingbetween the horizontal portions of said rails and substantially parallelto the doorway and sunof the horizontal portions of the rails, the door{portedwithin the compass of the vertical height when in open overheadhorizontal position being

